F.—l

VIII

Books and pattern-packets— Posted in the colony .. .. .. 17,976,214 17,613,689 Received from places outside the colony .. 2,131,707 1,954,045 20,107,921 19,567,734 540,187 Newspapers— Posted in the colony .. .. .. 15,404,618 14,107,523 Received from plaoes outside the colony .. 6,096,126 5,588,911 21,500,744 19,696,434 1,804,810 P&rcfils Posted in the colony .. .. .. 289,617 267,974 Received from places outside the colony .. 67,887 59,655 357,504 327,629 29,875 The letters increased 761, letter-cards 17-63, post-cards 58-97, books and pattern-packets 2-76, newspapers 9-16, and parcels 9-12 per cent. In 1903 letters increased 6-74, letter-cards 14-57, post-cards 11-62, books and pattern-packets 5-05, newspapers 6-37, and parcels 12-33 per cent. The average number of letters posted per head of population was estimated to be 71-76, or 73-4 including letter-cards. The averages in 1903 were 68-94, or 70-38 including letter-cards. The Post Office receipts for the year amounted to £383,242 lis. 4d., an increase of 11-67 percent. The expenditure was £300,943 10s. Bd., an increase of 11-1 per cent. The balance of postal revenue over expenditure was £82,299 os. Bd. The estimated value of the free official correspondence of other Government Departments was £83,075 Is. The gross earnings of the Post Office for the year were therefore £466,317 12s. 4d., and the credit balance £165,374 Is. Bd. Work performed for other Departments Among the many branches of Government work performed by the Department may be mentioned the following : — Customs duties were collected on parcels and other articles coming through the post from places beyond the colony amounting to £37,209 10s. Bd., and on account of ordinary Customs work £2,212 13s. 7d, The Advances to Settlers receipts amounted to £447,396 12s. lid., and nayments to £451,799 os. 4d. Fishing licenses were issued by Postmasters to the value of £1,566 15s. 6d., and game licenses to the value of £2,263. For the Government Insurance Department premiums were collected from the public amounting to £27,246 ss. sd. Publications sent out by the Government Printer and paid for through the Post Office brought in £831 4s. 3d. Income-tax amounting to £143,656 ss. Id., and land-tax £259,839 Bs. 9d., were collected by Postmasters. The sum of £6,387 195., fees due to the Machinery Department, was received. Under the Mining Act the receipts were £213 6s. New Zealand Consols for £1,030 were sold on behalf of the Treasury. £7,845 19s. 3d. was the amount paid for Official Assignees as dividends in bankrupt estates. The amount paid to old-age pensioners through the Post Office was £196,322 ss. 4d. On behalf of the Public Trustee £433,386 2s. 6d. was received, and £438,856 Is, lOd. paid. Railway revenue amounting to £10,885 13s. was collected by Postmasters. Fees for the registration of births, deaths, and marriages received by Postmaster-Registrars were £2,249 19s. Receipts from the Haniner Springs Sanatorium amounted to £2,217 19s. Id. Sheep rates amounting to £19,247, and £24 7s. sundry amounts, were collected for the Stock Department. On behalf of the Tourist Department £1,502 6s. Id. was received. Valuation Department fees paid to Postmasters reached £2,986 4s. Id. Claims on the General Government for £683,147 14s. 7d. were paid on behalf of the Treasury. Discount-stamps numbering 3,220,800, for £3,355, were sold, and 3.024,864, for £3,150 18s'., redeemed, during the year. The amount invested by the general public in Government 4-per-cent. debentures through the medium of the Post Office was £104,800. Gross Receipts and Payments. The gross amount received by the Department during 1904 was £16,385,474 10s. B£d., of which £13,998,953 19s. 7£d. was departmental, and £2,386,520 lis. Id. on account of other Departments. The gross amount paid out was £16,332,668 18s. 10£ d., made up of £13,930,042 Bs. 4£d. departmental, and on behalf of other Departments—to individuals £1,777,971 Is. 4d., and to accounts £624,655 9s. 2d. The total g;ross receipts and payments were therefore £32,718,143 9s. 7d.